Clamp



Dec. l1 1923.

A. J. HALVORSEN CLAMP Filed nec. s, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec.- 11,1923, y

A. J. HALVORSEN CLAMP --iled Dec. 8, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @mmf i, QT.Hummm Patented Dec. 11, 1923.

Unno stares trice.

.ALBERT J. HALVORSEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO OLIVER E.BECKER, or

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CLAMP.

Application filed December 8, 1919. Serial No'. 343,440.

' exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to clamps, and has general reference to aconstruction of universal clamp adapted to grasp objects of di'erentsizes and different formations for rigidly holding the same.

In its .more specific aspect, the invention relates to a universalclamping device for supporting' small power units, such as electricmoto-rs, generators, and various other power appliances for performingtests upon the units to determinel their torque, efiiciency, speedcharacteristic, etc. The utility of this clamp resides particularly inthe fact that quite frequently small motor or generator units arewithout any convenient means of mounting or, support when removed fromtheir permanent mounting in the machine, or other place of location,this having particular illustration in the electrical units removed fromgasoline or electric vehicles, and consequently the mounting of themotor or generator unit preparatory to making the desired' test istimeconsuming and inconvenient. Even where' the motor or generato-r ispro-vided with a mounting base, the rigid mounting of `the same on thetestingblock is inconvenient and difficult.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a form of universalclamp which will be applicable tothe supporting of power units and otherobjects of various sizes and formations.

A secondary object of the invention is io devise a clamp of thisdescription which will be shiftable with the object being clamped toimpose greater or less tension on the testing belt or chain or forgeneral adjusting for facilitating the performance of the testingoperations.

As I have previously intimated, the invention is not necessarily limitedto universal clamps for supporting electrical power units, but iscapable of extensive adaptation to other apparatus, such as to vises andthe like forsupporting various objects being measured, tested or having`machiningk operations performed thereon. 'y

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of myimproved clamp; v

Figure 2 is a longitudinal o-f the same; andk Figure 3 isa transversesectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

sectional view The clamp proper comprises a bed platev 4 and an integralupright standard 5, from which projects a forwardly extending portion 6.The standard 5 isof T-shaped section to give rigidity and strength tothe standard.` The extending portion 6 is slotted as indicated at 7 forthe reception of a threaded bearing block 8 through which screws avertical clamping screw 9. At its lower end the bearing block S.l isformed with an integral flange or collar 11, adapted to bear against theunder side of the projecting head portion 6. At its upper end thebearing block is provided with pairs of short pins 12, which rest uponthe upper margins of the slot 7 and supportl the bearing block. Themounting of the 4bearing block 8 in the slot 7 permits of ahorizontaltranslational adjustment ofthe clamping screw 9 in addition toitsvertical adjustment. The upper-end of the clamping screw 9 is providedwith a suitable pin or handle 13 and the lower end is provided lwith aswiveled head 14 for bearing upon the motor or other obj ect beingclamped. The swiveled head 14 is also arranged to have a certain degreeof rocking motion relative to the stem 9, so as to permit the head 14 toadjust itself to inclined surfaces on the motor or other object beingclamped.,

Referring' now to the construction of the bed plate 4, it will be notedthat the entire upper surface thereof is formed with a series oftransversely extending serrations or teeth 16. Adapted for longitudinaladjustment along this bed plate, is a transverse saddle ,block orsupporting member 17 of shallow trough-shaped formation. This saddleblock is designed to lsupport the motor M or other unit being tested.Across Ithe bottom of the saddle block 17 are formed longitudinally`extending segments 1818 which are formed with serrations or teethmeshing in vthe serrations 16 in the bed plate. The saddle block 1'? isheld against lateralshifting,

by short. pinslinits lateral edges, whieli embrace the sides ofthe bedplatee.,

Then the motor M is relatively large and of general oblong formation,such as illustrated in Figure 2, it is preferable to substitute thesaddle block 17 by a wedge block 21, so as to incline the motor andwedgeI it against the standard 5. ln such arrangement the front surfaeeof the stand.-

ard 5 functions as a point of clamping support. The wedge bleek 21 isblock can be made .by small degrees, and furthermore when infixed/positlen the supportingbloek isrigidly held-:against theAvibration and strain of the4 motor. This saine relation of'interengaging toothedy surfaces-.may be adapted .to the bearing bloclr 8and slotted. head portion. 6, by providingv serrationsnon the.uppersurfaee ofthe, flange 11 and on the lower. surface of the headportion, but this is not in the present case necessary as the serrationson the blocks 17 and 2l prevent shifting ef the object which is beingclamped. Supporting blocks of other forms than those herein shown may beprovided for suitably supporting any special mach-inery or object ofpeculiar formation. rlhe standard 5 is formed with lateral wingextensions 24, projecting up from Ithe bed plat et for inereasing thearea of Clamping support adjacent this portion ofthe standard.

. These win(r extensions afford anextensive transverse clamping area forclamping objects which. ean be placed in eontaetwith the lower portion,ofthe standardiso as to securely hold-such objects against twisting inthe transverse plane of the clamp. These wing extensions are made low,however, so as not to interfere with the testing chain. If desired, thegenerator may be so clamped that the shaft end carrying the pulleyWillprojectbeyendthe wings 24 and thus permit the. driving chain toescape the wing, as shown in Figure 2.

The clamp proper,` together with the motor vM, is movable as anentirety. alonga stationarybase25, so as to provide for increasing ordeereasingthetension on the chain or belt, er forv performing otheradjustments. Thebase member 25 is formed with upturned dangers 27 atitsends.y in `which are Amounted Qyliadreal; .guide bars, 2te-.28.. he

flange 27 and has threaded engagement in a hole 32 in the forwaijd guidemember 29. The rear guide member 29 is provided with an aligned hole 33'through which the lead screw is adaptedto slide freely. It will beapparent that by rotation of the 4 handle Bal on `the front-end of thelead Ascrew theelainp and motor canbe. easily shifted to impose y anydesired tension oir the driving belt or chain. The base memberi. is,suppoigted on three short supperting legs 315 through which pass screwsor bolts 36y forrigidly fastening thedevice to the testing block orother working surface.

Referring now to the, operation of the clamps, it will be observedthatthe swiveled head. 14, thefront face4 of thel standard `5C and thesloping. faeesof the saddle and wedge blocks 17 and 21 constituteayplurality, lof peints, clamping support, designated for reference, a,b, and o. respeetiyely. These points. of clamping support all lie Ain1thelofn.- gitudinalplane of the.e.lam.p in whichA plane the pullotthechain or the. strain of thel torquearm is. at ,its maximum. In theltransverse plane et the clamp. the, motorelaniping point is affordedbythe swivel head 1li andthe twoA lower clamping peints d; and e,

at the endsofthesupporting bleek (Eignre 1),. Erein the aboveit willvbeseen that the motor vis always supported at three circumsc'ribingpoints inbotlr the longitudinal and transverse planesl of the clamp, andaj result is rigidly held against movement inany A direetion.

It will be apparent that thekseve-ral points of clamping support a, Y?,c` and of in the longitudinal plane of the clamp circumscribe. or.define a closed geometricalfigure, which., by reason of the lateral andradial adjustments of the clamping pointst. is conformable in size andshape to accommodate the size and shape of the particular meter to beclamped. For example, when itis desired to. mount a motor of. oblongformation, such as is shown in Figure 2, one end of the motor is restedon the inclined slope of either the saddle block 17 or` the Wedge block`21 so as to incline the upperedge of the motor against the .standardv`5, `and thereupon the clamping screw. 9 is screwed down hard upon theopposite edge of the motor to rigidly Clamp the motor inposition. Formotors olf this Vgeneral formation, but of greater or lesser. breadth,the yclamping pointed` and c are. simply moved toward or away from theclamping point @by-.virtue of the. translational; adjustment @inthe@lag-Pise: seres Sv Qt.- tligsupfperting Cil block. This translationaladjustment of the clamping points a and c hence enables these clampingpoints to be always arranged in Such relation as to circumscribe orembrace the object being clamped.

For mounting a motor of circular form, the saddle block 17 may beemployed and the motor mounted as illustrated in Figure l, either in orout of engagement with the standard or the wedge block 21 may beemployed and the motor wedged against the standard for its third pointof clamping support. In the latter relation different sizes of motorscan obviously be accommodated by the translational adjustment of theclamping screw and wedge block. v l

It will be apparent from the foregoing that practically any formation orsize of power unit or other object can be accommodated in the clamp bythe .proper arranging and adjusting of the several clamping points.

After mounting the motor vin the clamp, the clamp and motor may beshifted as an entirety along the guide' rails of the base in an obviousmanner for the purpose of imposing tension on the driving connection, orfor varying the frictional contact of a variable speed Jfriction drive.

I do not intend to be limited to the particular details herein shown anddescribed.

I claim:

1. In a univers-al clamp, clamping members affording a plurality ofclamping points oircumscribing a closed geometrical tlgure, andadjusting means for permitting translational motion in the longitudinalplane of said clamp of certain oi' said clamping points and radialmotion relative to the geometrical center or' said ligure of one of saidclamping points for modifying the size and formation of said figures.

2. In a universal clamp, a plurality of clamping members, said clampingmembers affording a plurality of points of clamping support dening aclosed geome-tric figure, and adjusting means for permitting lateraltranslational adjustment of a plurality of said clamping points relativeto said geometric gure and for permitting radial adjustment of one ofsaid clamping points rela-tive to the geometric center of said figure.

3. In a universal clamp, supporting member thereon, a standard, aclamping member carried by said standard, and adjusting means forpermitting a translational adjustment of said supporting member and saidclamping member relativeto said standard.

4. In a universal clamp, a bed plate, a supporting member thereon, astandard, a clamping member carried by said standard, adjusting' meansfor permitting a horizontal adjustment ot' said supporting member a bedplate, a

'shifftably mounted on said head and said clamping member relative tosaid standard, and means for permitting vvertical adjustment of saidclamping member.

5. In a device of the class described, a clamp comprising a bed plate, asupporting block movable along said bed plate, a standard, a clampingscrew carried by said standard, means for permitting translational andlongitudinal adjustment of said clamping screw relative to said'.standard, a base 'inembeig guide members on said base memendof said bedplate, said standard coml prising ahead portion, a bearing blockportion, a clamping screw carried in said bearing block, a base member',guide rails supported by said base member, said clamp being mountedonsaid guide rails, and a lead screw for traversing said clamp alongsaid guide rails.

7. In combination, a universal clamp comprising a bed lplate having asupporting member thereon, a standard, a clamping member carried by saidstandard, adjusting means for permittingtranslational adjustment of saidsupporting member and said clamping member relative to saidstandard, a

base member for supporting said clamp,

guides on said base member, said clamp being movable along` said guides.

8. In combination, a universal clamp comprising a plurality of points ofclamping support, said clamping points defining a closed ligure,adjusting means for permitting lateral translational adjustment of oneor more of said clamping points relative to said closed figure, and forpermitting radial l adjustment relative to said closed ligure, a basefor saidk clamp, and guide means on said base, said clamp beingshiftable along said guide means, said shifting being independent ofsaid adjustable means. v

9. In a universal clamp, a corrugated bed, a corrugated supporting blockadjustable on said bed, a support stationary with relation 'to said bed,a nut shiftable alongsaid support, and a clamping screw threading'4through said nut and co-operating with said supporting block.

l0 In a universal clamp, a corrugated bed, a corrugated supporting blockadjustamember, said supporting slotted, a nut shiltable in said slotparallel 'to the adjusting motion of said supporting of one of saidclamping` points vble along said bed, a superposed supporting memberbeing Y block, and a Clamping screw` threading through, said nut.

11. 1n a universal olarnp,.a corrugated bed, a corrugated supportingblock adjustable along said corrugated bed, means for laterally guidingsaid supporting block on said beth-a slotted standard above said bedanut shiiitable in said slotted, standard, parallel 'to the adjusting'motion of Said supporting bleek,A ineansv for guiding and supportingsaid nut in said slot, ,a clamping screw threadingthrough said nut, abase member having guides thereon, said corrugated bed being mounted onSaid guides, and means for shifting said bed along said guides.

12. In a universal clamp,.a bed plate, the surface of said bed platebeing serrated, a supporting bloclrhavingcooperating` serrations andadapted torV adjustable positioning on said bed plate, a standard risingfrom one end of said bed plate, said standard comprisa slottedl headportion, a shiftable bearing block supported in. said slottedheadporably seated with respect to its support, and 30 interlockingmeans between said clamping member and its support to prevent accidentallongitudinal'or transverse shifting ot the clampingmember.

14. In a elanip, adjustable supporting member on said bed plate, avertical standardl projecting from Said bedy plate, anda clampinginernber earried by said standard having horizontalfadjustlnent relativethereto to compensate k'tor 40 thehorizontal adjustment ofk saidsupporting member. c f

1n Witnesswvhereof I hereunto subscribe iny nainetbis 4th day of.December 1919.

ALBERT J. HALvoRsnN.

abed plate, a horizontally 35

